Ferricarboxymaltose (Ferinject®, Vifor Pharma) is used for intravenous iron administration. This iron is administered in high dose iron infusion of 1000 mg iron (equals 20 ml Ferinject) in 250 ml saline in the vein (infusion site)within 2 hours. During infusion, patients will be observed and blood pressure and heart rate are monitored before and after administration.

Four weeks after iron administration, iron parameters are measured in the general practitioners setting. When iron parameters are still under normal values, a repeat infusion will be given of 500 mg iron (equals 10 ml Ferinject).

Detailed Description:

Background: Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) develop progressive right heart failure which eventually will lead to death. During progression of the disease the physical performance of the patients deteriorates. Maintaining their exercise capacity is a major goal in PAH treatment. Iron treatment is known to have a positive effect on physical performance in patients with left heart failure and iron deficiency. Whether this is also effective in patients with right heart failure (PAH) and iron deficiency is until now unknown.

The patients will be hospitalised two days at the beginning and two days at the end of the study to perform the exercise and strength tests, six minute walking distance and for biopsy of the quadriceps muscle. Also NYHA functional class will be determined and a QOL questionnaire has to be filled in. After the baseline measurements an iron infusion will be given (Ferinject 1000mg).

The investigators hypothesize that iron deficient IPAH patients will benefit from iron treatment with improved exercise capacity reflected in an increased 6MWD.

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Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01288651